Building clips



. April 27, 1965 R. J. SIPCHEN v BUILDING 'CLIPS Filed Oct. 10'. 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

ROBERT J. $1PCHEN April 1965 R. J. SIPCHEN 3,180,461

BUILDING CLIPS Filed 001:. 10, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f gt f g5 F1 g: 6

IN V EN TOR.

k Fggasm- I SIPCHEN 8 Hag 5- United States Patent 3,180,461 BUILDINGCLIPS Robert J. Sipchen, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Unicel Cerporation,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 10, 196%), Ser. No.61,634 11 Claims. (Cl. 18935) This invention relates to buildingstructures wherein clip means is used for securing to studs, joists,rafters, or other structural members in buildings lathing, temperaturerods, or other members to be attached and to a new and improved clip foruse in such structures.

In accordance with common practice, lathing is attached to the studs byhog nails and/ or by tie wires, which must be individually attached byhand. Even when hog nails are used to attach the lathing to the studs,it is first necessary to temporarily attach the latln'ng to the studs bymeans of tie wires. All of this requires considerable time, and althoughsome workers are able to do this very quickly, most of them are not, sothat the cost of attaching lathing of the expanded metal type to metalstuds is high.

Another difliculty encountered when using hog nails is that the lathingis not drawn up tightly against the studs. While efforts have been madeto improve the use of hog nails, such efforts have not proved successfulin respect to the saving in erection time by the use of hog nails.

Attempts have been made to overcome the deficiencies of the use of tiewires or hog nails by using double-headed fasteners which can beinserted in short slots in metal studs for attaching metal lathing tosuch studs. Such fasteners are not entirely satisfactory for the reasonthat they do not hold the lathing tightly to the studs. Also, theycannot be used with studs or other structural members having elongatedslots or openings, since they are not of such form as to be retained inproper position to receive the lathing thereon. Moreover, such priorfasteners are not suitable for attaching members to the studs on bothsides thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, a clip is provided which is soformed that it can be assembled with a structural member, then turned tolock it in position on the structural member, whereafter a tongue on theclip is bent over against the member to be attached, such as lathing, tobe secured to the structural member, to maintain the attached member inplace.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedbuilding structure wherein a novel clip is employed for attaching alathing or other member to a structural member such as stud, joist,rafter or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedclip for attaching a lathing or other member to a structural member suchas a stud, a joist, a rafter, or the like.

Another object is to provide a clip for attaching a lathing or othermember to a structural member which clip is so formed that it needmerely be assembled with the structural member and then turnedwhereafter a tongue of the clip is bent into position against the memberto be attached to secure the latter to the structural member.

A further object is to provide a clip of the foregoing character whichmay be simply and inexpensively formed from sheet metal stock with arelatively small number of simple operations.

A further object is to provide a clip of the foregoing character whichmay be formed from sheet metal stock without any waste of material.

A further object is to provide a clip of the foregoing character whichcan be used successfully by relatively unskilled labor.

A further object is to provide a clip which can be EihdA-hl PatentedApr. 2?, i955 quickly and easily assembled with the members which it isdesired to connect.

A further object is to provide a clip of the foregoing character whichdoes not require any special equipment or skill to assemble it with andattach it to the members which it is desired to connect.

ther objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the appended drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a structural member of conventionalconstruction with which the clip of the present invention is speciallyadapted to cooperate;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the clip of the presentinvention is formed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clip formed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a portion of a structural memberand the clip in its preliminarily assembled position with the structuralmember;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a structural member with the clipof the present invention assembled therewith in position to receive amember to be attached to the structural member;

FIG. 6 is a View similar to FIG. 5, only taken from the rear of theassembly;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective View of the structural member and clipwith lathing secured by the clip to the structural member;

FIG. 8 is a view of a section taken along line S3 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a portion of a structural memberand showing the clip as used in retaining a temperature rod on theinside of a structural member; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of a portion of a structural member andshowing clips as used in retaining a temperature rod on the outside of astud and the outside of a cooperating joist.

The clip of the present invention is particularly designed and adaptedfor use in connection with a structural mem ber 10 of conventional formwhich includes two spaced parallel stringer elements 11, each includinga pair of spaced bars or rods 12 and one or more cross elements 13extending between the two stringer elements 11. The cross elements 13are formed by bars or rods extending at each end into the space betweenthe two rods 12 of each of the stringer elements 11 and secured thereto,as by welding. The cross elements may be formed each as a single memberbut preferably a single bar or rod of generally serpentine form isemployed, the several sections thereof serving as cross elements. Inconnection with the foregoing it will be understood that while themembers forming the structural members are usually of circularcross-section they may take other forms and the term rods as used hereinis not limited to members of circular cross-section.

The clip of the present invention preferably is formed from a singleblank 15 (FIG. 2), which may be of sheet metal, and a plurality of suchblanks may be punched from a single sheet without waste of material. Inthis connection also it will be understood, as explained hereinafter,that the clip is so formed that there is no waste of material of theblank 15, all of the material of the blank ble ing employed in formingthe several elements of the c ip.

The blanlc 15 is punched to form a first tongue 16 of generally spadeshape having a head portion with two spaced arms 17 and a reduced neck18 connecting the tongue 16 with the body I? of the blank 15. A secondtongue 2% is formed by the material located in the space between the twoarms 17 of the tongue 16.

After the punching operations, the tongue 16 is bent out of the plane ofthe body 19 and at right angles thereto, and the tongue 2% is bent outof the plane of the body 19 and at right angles thereto in the oppositedirection from the tongue 16. Thus, the tongues 16 and 26 extendperpendicularly to the plane of the body 19 in parallel planesperpendicularly to the plane of the body, as seen particularly in FIG. 3of the drawings. 7

The punching of the blank and bending of the tongues 16 and 2t)preferably is accomplished as a single operation in a progressive die(not shown) of suitable construction.

It will be seen that in the clip 25 formed as above described, thebifurcate tongue 16 is formed with a central open ended notch 23. whichextends medially of the tongue for a substantial distance inwardly fromthe free end of the tongue toward the base, the purpose of which notch21 will hereinafter appear. It will also be seen that the'bifurcatetongue 16 is connected to the body 1% by the reduced neck 18, wherebythe inner straight edges or shoulders 22 of the tongue 16 are parallelto and spaced from the adjacent face of the body 1?.

The side edges 23 of the tongue 16 are curved, as illustrated, and theonly sharp corners on the tongue are at the juncture of the side edges23 and the inner edges 22 and at the outer ends of the sides of thenotch 21. The outer free end 24 of the tongue is preferably rounded, asshown. Thus, there are no sharp corners at any portion of the clip whichmight catch on the members with which the clip is to be assembled andinterfere with the f ready assembly of the clip with the members to besecured together by the clip. 7

The clip 25 is especially adapted for securing to a structural member ofthe character above described metal lathing, temperature rods, and othermembers. In the present application it is shown and described as used inattaching the members as particularly illustrated and describedhereinafter.

The clip 25 is assembled with the structural member 10 by inserting thebifurcate tongue 16 through the space between the spaced rods 12, asseen particularly in FIG. 4, and moving the clip 25 into position, withthe body portion 15 abutting the adjacent outer surfaces of the rods 12,whereby. the bifurcate tongue 16 is located entirely on the oppositeside of the rods 12 from the body portion 19. The clip 25 is then turnedat right angles to the position shown in FIG. 4, the space between theinner edges of the bifurcate tongue 16 and the body 19 being suificientto permit such turning movement. It should be understood that ininserting the bifurcate tongue 16 between the rods 12, the clip ispositioned in spaced relation to the K positions the clip and preventsfurther movement of the? clip toward the cross member. At the same timethe cross member prevents rocking of the clip about the structuralmember 10 in the plane of the tongue 16. Where the structural member isvertically disposed, as illustrated portion against which the clipabuts. The single tongue 20 is thus in a position to receive the memberto be attached to the structural member 19. r The bifurcate tongueprojects inwardly from the adjacent stringer portion and also ispositioned to receive a member to be attached to the structural memberas hereinafter explained.

Where the member to be attached is metal lathing of the expanded metaltype, such as the metal lathing 30 shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of clips25 (one of which is shown in FIG. 7) are assembled with each of aplurality of structural members 1% (one of which is shown in FIG. 7),and the lathing 39 is hung on projecting tongues 20 of all of the clips25;

Thereafter, all of the tongues 26 are bent downwardly, as by hammering,against the lathing 30 into a position such as shownin FIGS. 7 and 8,wherein the tongues tight- 1y clamp the lathing against the outer facesof the body portions 19 of the several clips 25 and thus maintain it inposition. Owing to the fact that the tongues 29 extend through thelathing 30 and their outer portions are outwardly of the plane of thelathing 3G, a slight shoulder is provided on each tongue which may servefor aiding in supporting the lathing where the structural members 10 aredisposed vertically- The clip 25 alternatively may be used for attachinga member, such as a temperature rod, to the inner sides of the stringer,rods. As is well known, temperature rods consist ofmetal rods ofsuitable lengths, commonly about 6 long, which are located, usually inhorizontal positions, in concrete walls to distribute heat throughoutthe walls and thus prevent cracking, which might otherwise result fromdifferences in temperature occurring in different portions of the wall.The temperature rod connected to the structural members, as describedhereinafter, also serves to prevent the latter from being displaced orswaying.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 9, the clip 25 is assembled with thestructural member it) in thesame manner above described and placed inthe position as shown particularly in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. Thememher to be attached, such as the temperature rod 35, is then placed onthe several clips, one of which is shown in FIG. 9, and then two legs 17of the bifurcate tongue 16 of the clip are bentup around the temperaturerod in tight clamping engagement therewith. Preferably, the clip andtemperature rod are so positioned that the temperature rod rests uponand is supported by the adjacent cross member 13, the latter beingreceived between the two legs l'l, as illustrated. Where, however, thetemperature rod or other member to be-attached'by means for thebifurcate tongue is of a larger size, the cross member 13 may notdirectly engagethe temperature rod or other member but may engage theclip at the area of the body portion adjacent the neck portion. In anyevent, the clip and the connected member'are supported by the crossmember.

Where lathing (not shown) is to be attached to the clip 25 in additionto the temperature rod, it is attached in a manner similar to that shownin FIGS. 7 and 8 and described above usually after the attachment of thetemperature rod.

, stud 40 in. a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 5

The temperature rod and 6 and described hereinabove. 41 is placedagainst the outer face of the clip 25 and the tongue 20 is bentdownwardly around the temperature rod 41 and through the opening. in theclip 25, and the end is preferably extended through the space betweenthe rods 12 of the stud 40. A second clip 25 is assembled with the joist42 in a manner-similar to the assembly of the clip 25 with the stud 40,and the tongue 29 of the second clip 25 is bent around the temperaturerod 41 and passed through the opening in the clip 25 and into the spacebetween bars 12 of the joist 42. Thus the ansoner temperature rod isfirmly and rigidly supported on both the stud and the joist.

It will be understood that the clip may be used to attach a temperaturerod to the inside of a structural member by the use of the single tongueusing the clip in a manner (not shown) generally similar to thatillustrated in FIG. except that the clip body abuts the inner side ofthe stringer portion.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my invention provides a simpleand inexpensive means for attaching lathing or other members to studs,joists, rafters, or other structural members. The clip is of such formthat it may readily be assembled manually with the structural member onwhich it is to be supported. It is of such construction that it isself-supporting on the structural members, and it is not necessary touse any tie wires or other separate means for connecting the clip to thestructural member. The clip permits the ready assembly with thestructural member of the lathing or other members to be attached quicklyand conveniently, and it can be readily placed in securing condition bymerely bending over the projecting tongue or tongues of the clip againstor around the member to be attached. Such bending may be accomplishedreadily merely by hammering the tongue and without the necessity for theuse of special equipment for this purpose. In this connection, it willbe obvious that the placement of the clip and the attachment of themember by means of the clip is an extremely simple operation and can beaccomplished by relatively unskilled labor. The clip itself isrelatively inexpensive and the cost of labor required to assemblemembers by the use of the clip is also relatively inexpensive, and thusthe entire cost of assembling members by the use of the clip isrelatively inexpensive.

The clip itself is of relatively simple construction and can be madeinexpensively by a relatively simple operation, as above explained, andwithout the loss or waste of any material, either between adjacentblanks or within each individual blank. No special material is requiredfor making the clip, and it can be made from any suitable bendable metalhaving sufficient strength to secure the attached member to thestructural member.

A clip of the present invention is disclosed in my copendingapplication, Serial No. 70,699, filed November 21, 1960.

Iclaim:

1. In combination, a structural member including spaced parallelstringer portions each including a pair of spaced rods and a crossportion extending between said stringer portions and secured thereto,with at least a portion in inclined relation to said stringer portions,a clip including a body portion of plate-like form extending along theouter side of the rods forming one of said stringer portions, a first,slotted tongue extending substantially perpendicularly from said bodyportion and through the space between said rods and having an enlargedhead Wider than the space between said rods on the side opposite saidbody and receiving the adjacent cross portion in said slot to positionsaid clip relatively to said structural member, said clip also having asecond, single tongue extending substantially perpendicularly from saidbody portion in the opposite direction from said first tongue and havingits base spaced from the base of said first tongue, and a supportedmember engaged and secured to said structural member by one of saidtongues.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supported memberlies against said body portion on the opposite side from said structuralmember and is engaged and supported by said second tongue.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second tongue hasat least a portion otiset from and generally parallel to said base andengaging said supported member.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said supported memberis engaged by and supported by said first tongue.

5. The combination with a structural member having a slot-like openingtherein, a clip having a plate-like body portion formed with aperipherally continuous opening therein and tongues extending out of theplane of the body portion in opposite directions and having their basesat dilterent portions of the periphery of said opening, one of saidtongues having an enlarged head wider than the Width of said slot-likeopening and a neck narrower than said opening, said one tongue beingprojected through said slot and positioned generally perpendicularly tosaid slot with the other tongue projecting away from said structuralmember, and a member engaged by at least one of said tongues andconnected to said structural member by said clip.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein said one tongue isdeformed around at least a portion of the member engaged thereby.

7. The combination with a structural member having slot-like openingstherein of a plurality of clips, each having a plate-like body portionformed with a peripherally continuous opening therein and tonguesextending out of the plane of the body portion in opposite directionsand having their bases at diiierent portions of said periphery, a firstone of said tongues having an enlarged head wider than said openings anda neck narrower than said openings, said first tongues of said clipsbeing projected through at least certain of said slot-like openingsrespectively and positioned with their heads perpendicularly thereto,with the other tongues of each of said clips projecting away from saidstructural member, and an expanded metal lathing member received on saidother tongues, said other tongues each having at least a portiondeformed into position retaining said lathing member on said structuralmember.

8. In combination, a structural member including spaced, parallelstringer portions, each including a pair of spaced rods and a crossportion extending between said stringer portions and secured theretowith at least a portion in inclined relation to said stringer portions,a clip including a body portion of plate-like form extending along theouter side of said rods forming one of said stringer portions, said bodyportion having a peripherally continuous opening therein, a first tongueextending out of the plane of said body portion and having a head portion of greater width than the space between the rods of said stringerportion and an inner neck portion of less width than said space, saidfirst tongue extending out of the plane of said body portion and throughsaid space with said head on the opposite side of said stringer portionfrom said body portion, said clip having a second tongue extending outof the plane of said body portion in the opposite direction from saidfirst tongue, said tongues being connected to said body portion atdiflerent portions of the periphery of said opening.

9. A clip for attaching a member to a structural member, said clipincluding a body portion of plate-like form having a peripherallycontinuous opening therein, a first, bifurcate, tongue extending out ofthe plane of said body portion in one direction with its base at oneportion of the periphery of said opening and a second, single, tongueextending out of the plane of said body portion in the directionopposite to said first tongue and having its base at another portion ofsaid periphery and spaced from the base of said first tongue.

10. A clip for securing a member to a structural member, said clipincluding a body portion of plate-like form having a peripherallycontinuous opening therein, a first, bifurcate, tongue extendinggenerally perpendicularly out of the plane of said body portion in onedirection with its base at one portion of the periphery and a second,single, tongue extending generally perpendicularly out of the plane ofsaid body portion in a direction opposite to said first tongue andsubstantially parallel to said first tongue and having its base attheopposite portion of said periphcry from said first tongue.

11. A clip for attaching a member to a structural memher, said clipcomprising a body portion of plate-like form having a peripherallycontinuous opening therein, a first, bifurcate, tongue having anenlarged head and a reduced neck and projecting generally out of theplane of said body portion with its base at one portion of the peripheryof said opening and a second, single, (tongue projecting from said bodyportion in the opposite direction from said first tongue and having itsbase at another portion of said periphery and spaced from the base ofsaid first tongue.

8 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 511,063 12/93'Rosback. 786,850 4/05 Sieverkropp; 1,659,932 2/28 Venzie. 1,923,906 8/33Berger. I 2,822,584 2/58 Urbain.- 2,907,199 10/59 Johnson -r 50-3152,909,251 10/59 Nelsson.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. JOEL REZNEK, Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A STRUCTURAL MEMBER INCLUDING SPACED PARALLELSTRINGER PORTIONS EACH INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED RODS AND A CROSSPORTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID STRINGER PORTIONS AND SECURED THERETO,WITH AT LEAST A PORTION IN INCLINED RELATION TO SAID STRINGER PORTIONS,A CLIP INCLUDING A BODY PORTION OF PLATE-LIKE FORM EXTENDING ALONG THEOUTER SIDE OF THE RODS FORMING ONE OF SAID STRINGER PORTIONS, A FIRST,SLOTTED TONGUE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAID BODYPORTION AND THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID RODS AND HAVING AN ENLARGEDHEAD WIDER THAN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID RODS ON THE SIDE OPPOSITE SAIDBODY AND RECEIVING THE ADJACENT CROSS PORTION IN SAID SLOT TO POSITIONAND CLIP RELATIVELY TO SAID STRUCTURAL MEMBER, SAID CLIP ALSO HAVING ASECOND, SINGLE TONGUE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAIDBODY PORTION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM SAID FIRST TONGUE AND HAVINGITS BASE SPACED FROM THE BASE OF SAID FIRST TONGUE, AND A SUPPORTEDMEMBER ENGAGED AND SECURED TO SAID STRUCTURAL MEMBER BY ONE OF SAIDTONGUES.